UE/R Three Tourist Sites Earmarked for Development

Pictorial tourist site in Bolgatanga

Three tourist sites the PagaZeng and the Chief Crocodile Ponds, the Pikoro Slave Camp and the TenzugSharine have been earmarked for development in the Upper East Region. 

A memorandom of understanding has been signed by between the the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Paga Traditional Authority and the Kassena Nankana West District Assembly, for development work to start at the Zenga Crocodile Pond. 

This forms part of the thirty-three tourist sites identified country wide for upgrading and management improvement, by the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Ghana Touriest Authority GTA. 

This came to light during a day’s lecture marking the celebrations of this year’s United Nations World Tourism Day UNWTD in Bolgatanga. It was under the theme “Tourism and Digital Transformation”.

A cross section of  the stakeholders at the Lecture in Bolgatanga 

 About 30 key stakeholders drawn from the various hospitality industries participated. They were taken through the evolution of the Tourism industry and the need for digital transformation taking cognizance of some of the traditional belief systems in the region, if the tourism sector must survive a continues and inclusive growth in line with the sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

 Tourism is a significant contributor to the economic growth and development in Ghana, a major source of employment, foreign exchange and government revenue. 

The 2017 publication of the United Nations World Tourism Organization UNWTO, indicates a higher growth in international arrival in seven years since 2010, with the rise of 6.8% as against its long-term projections of 3.6 % per year, for a period 2010/2020.

Upper East Regional Director of Ghana Tourism Authority Mr. Henry Yeledour speaking at the lecture

 

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Upper East Regional Director of Ghana Tourism Authority GTA Henry Yeleduor stated that, the theme was a unique opportunity to raise the awareness on the potential contribution of digital technology, to sustainable development, provide a platform for investment, partnership and collaboration towards a more responsible and inclusive tourism sector. 

He indicated that the region is no exception of the exponential growth of Tourism sector and has recorded a positive expansion over the years. 

He indicated that, tourist attraction such the Pagazenga and chief Crocodile Ponds, the Pikoro Slave Camp, Tenzugshrine, the Sirigu Women Organization in Pottery and Art SWOPA, the Bolgatanga Craft Village and other Heritage Sites continue to attract tourist to the region in spite of the infrastructural and logistical constrains. 

He emphasized further that, there are a growing numbers of decent and welcoming hospitality industry, with luxurious accommodation facilities and welcoming services to the ever increasing number of visitors to the Upper East Region. 

He added that, there was the need to improve access to good facilities and service delivery to meet and exceed guest expectations of by the provision of basic facilities such as visitor’s information offices and washrooms to tourist sites. 

Mr. Yeleduor spoke on his plans to improve tourist attraction in the Upper East Region. 

Chairman and Bon-Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area

The Chairman for the occasion Bon-naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, explained the role of the media in the promotion of tourism vis a vie culture and digital transformation, saying in his traditional area, the media has been used to show case the tourist attraction in Bongo. He said digital transformation should not totally over shadow the cultural practices.  Madam Eva Agana Mmmah of Miller Open University threw more light on tourism, business and culture, making all stands as a priority. A retired lecturer of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic Dr James Akamboi Aeribasi gave his view on tourism in modernity. Digitally advanced tourism sector can improve entrepreneurship, local community empowerment and efficient resource management. It gives us the impetus to understand the growing economic, societal and environmental impacts of technology.